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with a machete following an altercation over herding of goats.
Onias Mahlekete (28) of Munhumba Village under Chief Sengwe, killed Hlongiwa Makasani Mahange (71) after the latter accused him of letting goats into his maize crop.
Justice Susan Mavangira found Mahlekete guilty of murder with constructive intent.
The trial took long to start because the court could not locate a Shangani interpreter after Mahlekete said he could understand neither English nor Shona.
Facts are that on December 24, 2008 Mahlekete went to the fields near his homestead and found Mahange guarding his maize field.
The elderly man accused Mahlekete of letting the goats roam into his maize.
Mahlekete then struck the man thrice on the head with a machete and fled.
Other villagers discovered the corpse in a pool of blood the following morning and made a police report.
The corpse was taken for post-mortem and police investigations led to Mahlekete’s arrest.
In his defence, Mahlekete denied the charges saying he had not met Mahange on the day in question.
He said he was looking for his father’s goat that had gone missing and found it in Mahange’s maize field.
However, he said he did not have any confrontation with the deceased. – CR.
Online Reporter